Since being first staged as a pro-am tournament in 2004, The Paul Hunter Classic (PHC) was named in honour of the three-time Masters champion Hunter who died of cancer in 2006.

This year (2016) the PHC is a prestigious full ranking event for the first time in its history with the winner taking home a £18,750 first prize.

Defending champion Ali Carter was a popular winner last year and will be keen to defend his title next week in Fürth. After winning the most recent ranking tournament, the World Open, the Captain will be full of confidence and amongst the favourites to win.

Two-time world championship runner up Carter faces an easy start in the form of an amateur player in the first round, before facing a potentially tougher test in the shape of Mark Joyce or Noppon Saengkham in round two.

Wish the notable absences of top players Ronnie O'Sullivan, Neil Robertson and Ding Junhui from the tournament, world champion Mark Selby will be bookies favourite in Fürth to go and win a record third PHC title. He also faces an amateur player in his opening match and should be expected to progress further with Martin O'Donnell or Elliot Slessor awaiting in the second round.

Elsewhere 2014 world champion Stuart Bingham has a tough opener against rising English talent Sydney Wilson, Shanghai Masters champion Kyren Wilson will be tested in his opener against Jimmy Robertson, and Martin Gould who won his first ranking title in Berlin last February faces a tricky first round encounter against the extroverted Dechawat Poomjaeng.

Other players to look out for at the PHC include include Scotland's top young prospect Anthony McGill who won his first ranking title at the Indian Open last month, he also comes up against an amateur player in the first round. Lastly Northern Ireland's Mark Allen will be another player expecting to go far next week, he faces a potential banana skin against China's Zhang Yong in their opening match.

All matches in the Paul Hunter Classic will be best-of-7 throughout and coverage from the tournament will be broadcast on EuroSport TV. For all the scores, results and updated draw, head to Snooker.org